Press control mechanism



Dec. 6, 1938. w. P. BEATTIE PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21

P. BEATTIE WILLIAM BY 2 j A ORNEY Dec. 6, 1938. w. P. BEATTIE PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1935 Dec. 6, 1938. w. P. BEATTIE 2,139,064-

PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Jan. 21, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WILLIAM P. BEATTIE Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,139,064 mass oon'mor. MECHANISM Application January 21, 1935, Serial No. 2,698

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improved operating and control mechanism for laundry or garmen presses.

An object of the present invention is to provide a' fluid actuated motor for operating a press of the type described with suitable valves for controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid to the motor and electrically operated power means In such a press I have provided means for ac-.

tuating the electrical power means by a change in the press closing mechanism which occurs upon 20.the movable pressing member encounteringresistance.

My invention also contemplates the provision, in a pressing machine closed by a fluid motor, of suitable valves with power means for moving the valves to press closing position and for maintaining them there. For the power means I provide two circuits, one a preliminary closing circuit under the control of the operator and the other a maintaining circuit which is established independently of the operator after the lapse of a short period of time.

My invention also contemplates the provision of an assembled unit including a power motor with all control devices necessary except oper 35 ating manuals. Such a unit may be applied to a foot power press very easily with a few control manuals arranged convenient for the operator and'with suitable power supply lines connected to the mechanism.

Other novel features of my invention include suitable structure for carrying out the above described purposes and objects, suitable control circuits and manuals and other ieature's, all as will more clearly appear in the accompanying drawings and description and the same will be summarized in the claims. I

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a pressing machine partly in section showing one form of my improved operating and control mechanism applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the power mechanism of Fig.

l 1 and showing the control circuits in diagrammatic form; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of control mechanism; Fig. 4 is another similar view showing a still further modification; while Fig. 5 is a modified form of the device of Fig. 4.

' My invention is applicable to any pressing machine in which a fluid motor moves the pressing members into final engagement and holds them there for the duration of a pressing operation. For the purpose of illustration I have illustrated a very simple form of press having a frame it) on which is mounted a bed II which is adapted to coact with a suitable head or chest member I2 carrledfby head lever l3 into and out of engagement by suitable operating mechanism. A very simple form of mechanism comprises toggles normally biased to broken position by spring l5 and movable to straightened position for a pressing operation by a fluid m0- tor l6 which may be suitably mounted on trunnions I! on the frame and connected at it to the toggle knuckle.

My invention relates more particularly to the arrangement of this fluid motor and its control mechanism. In Fig. 2 I have shown the motor [6 as comprising a cylinder ill in which moves a piston which has a suitable .piston rod 2| for connection to the toggles. For controlling flow and exhaust of motive fluid to and from motor I8 I provide a valve casing 22 which houses a normally closed inlet valve 22a and a normally open outlet valve 22b which are provided by a common actuator, in this case the stem 220 which is connected with suitable power means for moving the valves to actuated position to operate the motor in press closing direction. In the valve casing is a passageway 23 providing communication with the cylinder l9 and connectible by suitable ports 24 with a supply of motive fluid and 25 with atmosphere for the exhaust of fluid, these operations depending upon the position of the valves as will be apparent from the drawings.

Certain features of my invention are realized regardless of the manner in which the valves 22a and 2212 are flrst operated to their press closing position. However, I prefer to so move the valves by some power means and in the instant case I have used electrical power means and more speciflcally a solenoid 26. The armature 21 of the solenoid is operatively connected with the valve actuator or stem 22c and in the present instance is illustrated as .being unitary therewith. The solenoid may conveniently be connected rigidly with the cylinder l8 by a bracket 28. The valves are biased to'their normal position by a,=spring 29 which engages between bracket 28 and a collar 30 on the valve stem 22d.

Two control circuits are provided for energizing-solenoid 26, The first or press closing control circuit includes a supply line Lli, line 3!, two spaced normally open switches 32 and 33 connected in series by line 34, line 35, normally closed release switch 36, and line 81, the opposite side of the solenoid being connected with a second supply line L2.

The other circuit for energizing solenoid 26 is a maintaining circuit and in the form shown in Fig. 2 this circuit includes a normally open switch 38 which is adapted to be closed a short period after the valves have been moved to their operated position to close the press.

The closmg of this switch 35 is arranged to take place upon the building up of a predetermined pressure in cylinder l9, which will take place when the head i2 encounters an obstruction such as the bed II. To this end I have provided a movable abutment 39 in a cylinder 40 which communicates by port H with the motive fluid in cylinder l9 so that the pressure in the cylinder is exerted against one face of the abutment. A spring 42 biases the abutment in switch opening direction as shown in Fig. 2. The abutment.

is connected by rod 43 with a conductor 3 which is adapted to close the open contacts so as to close switch 38 and establish a circuit as follows:

From Ll through conductor M, line 55, line 35, norirgally closed switch 36, line 31, solenoid 26 The operation of this form of device is as follows: With the parts in the position of Fig. 1 the operator arranges the lay of the work on the bed and depresses the buttons controlling switches 32 and 33. This establishes the press c osing circuitabove described and energizes solenoid 26 which moves valves 22a and 22b to their operated position with the inlet valve 22a open and the outlet valve 2% closed. Fluid then flows through conduit 24, valve 22a and passageway 23 to cylinder I9 against the working face of piston 20 and the press closes. If at any time before the pressing head engages the bed the operator releases either of the manuals 32 or 33, the solenoid will be deenergized and spring 29 will return the valves to their normal position, whereupon spring i5 will open the press. If however, the operatormaintains both manuals 32 and 33 depressed fluid pressure will build up in cylinder is and against the lefthand face of abutment 39 until it preponderates over spring 42 whereupon'the abutment will move to the right and close swiixzh 38, thus completing the maintaining circuit previously described, whereupon the operator may release manuals 32 and33 and the press will remain closed. To open the press the operator depresses the manual controlling switch 36 which will open the switch and deenergize solenoid 25 thus permitting spring 29 to return the valves to theirnormal position and the press to open under the influence of spring 55.

In the modification shown in. Fig. 3 a more positive time delay is provided between the move- :ment of the fluid control valves to their press closing position and the establishment of the electric maintaining circuit. In this form the maintaining circuit does 'not depend for its establishment upon any specific change taking place in the press operating mechanism, such as the buildmg up of fluid pressure in cylinder l9 as previously described. In the form of Fig. 3, the power means which moves the fluid motor control valves to their operated position eventually establishes a maintaining circuit but the establishment of necessary to place the valves in press closing position. This lost motion connection is provided by mounting valves 22a and 22b on a common sleeve 22d which is movable longitudinally on a reduced portion 22c of the stem 226. This sleeve is yieldably held against a shoulder 22 by a spring 46 surrounding the stem portion 22c and held between the sleeve 22d and a collar 41 pinned to the valve stem. In this form of the device, the valves are biased toward their normal position by a spring 48 which engages between the valve casing 22 and a collar 49 on the valve stem. At the lower end of the stem 220 is connected a timing device which in the form shown comprises a dash pct 50 in which reciprocates a piston 5i which is rigidly mounted on the stem 22c. This piston is arranged to impede the progress of the valve stem upwardly but to permit it to move freely downward. To this end the piston is provided with suitable flapper valves 52 whichclose ports 53 in the piston on the upward stroke but permit a flow through these ports on the downward stroke. The opposite ends of the dash pot cylinder communicate by a bypass 54 in which is located an adjustable needle valve 55 so that the upward stroke of the dash pot may be timed. In this form of the device the solenoid 26 may be supported by a bracket similar to bracket 28 in Fig. 2 and the dash pct 50 may be rigidly supported from the motor structure by a bracket 55 so that all working parts are combined in one unit.

The closing circ' 't for solenoid 26 in the form shovim in Fig. 3 is in all respects similar to that described in connection with Fig. 2. The maintaining circuit for solenoid 2B is similar to that described in Fig. 2 except that the open switch in this circuit is now located at 51 and is closed by a conductor 58 which is carried by the valve stem and which completes the circuit through the normally open contacts after the lost motion has been taken up to compress spring 45 and after the dash pot has provided its delaying effect.

The operation of the device of Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 except that during the operation of the closing circuit solenoid 26 exerts a continuous pull upon its armature 21 and the connected valve stem 220 after the valves 22a and 22?) have moved to press closing position. During this additional motion of the valve stem the lost motion between collar 41 and sleeve 2211 is taken up, spring 43 is compressed, the piston 57 moves up slowly in the dash pot and finally conductor 58 completes the closing of switch 57 thus establishing a maintaining circuit through Li, conductor 58, line 45, line 35, normally closed switch 36, line 31, solenoid 26 and line L2. To

open this press, release manual 36 is depressed solenoids 26 and 6|. It will be noted in this flgure that the electric circuit for solenoids 26 and 6| are in parallel and their circuit is completed through the normally open switch 51 which is closed by the conductor 58 practically simultaneously with the movement of valves 22a and 22b to press closing position. It will be understood that a substantially similar result would be attained if solenoids 26 and 6| were connected in series, as in Fig. 5.

The operation 01' the device of Fig. 4 is similarto Fig. 3. The operator arranges. the lay of of the work and depresses manuals 32 and 33. This completes a closing circuit LI, line 3|, switch 32, line 34, switch 33, line 35, switch 36, lines 31 and 31', solenoid 26, L2. As soon as solenoid 26 has actuated valves 22a and 22b to their press closing position, normally open switch 51 is closed establishing the following circuit: Ll, line 3 I, switch 32, line 34, switch 33, line 35, switch 36, line 31, conductor 58, line 65, solenoid 6|, line 66, L2. Upon the holding of this circuit by means of manuals 32 and 33 for a suflicient length of time, solenoid 6| causes its armature 66 and stem 59 to complete a stroke as delayed by the dash pct 59 whereupon conductor 63 closes normally open switch 64 and establishes the following circuits: Ll, line 61, conductor 63, line 68, line 35, switch 36, line 31, and two parallel circuits-from this point on, namely, line 31', solenoid 26, L2, and line 31, conductor 58, line 65, solenoid 6|, line 66 and L2. Both solenoids thus remain energized and the press remains closed until switch 36 is openedwhich deenergizes both solenoids and all parts return to the position of Fig. 4.

The operation of the device of Fig. 5 is like that of Fig. 4. The operator arranges the lay of the work and depresses manuals 32 and 33. This completes a closing circuit Ll, line 3 I, switch 32, line 34, switch 33, line 35, switch 36, line 31, solenoid 26, line 69, solenoid 6| L2. When solenoid 26 is energized its armature 220 is raised, thus closing outlet valve 22b and opening inlet valve 22a which admits pressure fluid to motor l6 and causes a power stroke of piston 20 for closing the press. Upon the holding of the above circuit bymeans of manuals 32 and 33 for a suflicient length of time, solenoid 6| causes its armature 60 and stem 59 to complete a stroke as delayed by dash pot 50, adjustable at 55, whereupon conductor 63 closes normally open switch 64 and establishes the following circuit: Ll, line 61, conductor 63, line 66, line 35, switch 36, line 31, solenoid 26, line 69, solenoid 6| L2. Both solenoids thus remain energized and the operator may release manuals 32 and 33, while the press remains closed until switch 36 is opened, which deenergizes both solenoids and all parts return to the position oi Fig. 5.

The parts shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 or 5 may be mounted on a unitary structure as taught by Figs. 2 and 3 if desired.

I have thus provided press control mechanism which requires the use of two hands of an operator. while the pressing members are moving from their wide open position to a saiely closed position and the circuits are so arranged that the operator must imaintain the pressure of her hands upon the safetymanuals until a further effect caused by the press moving parts has taken place. In Figs. 1 and 2 the closing circuit must be maintained until the pressing members have obstructed the movement 01' piston 20 so as to build up sufllcient pressure in cylinder I! to actuate the abutment 33 and establish the maintaining circuit, while in the remaining figures the actuator which closes the maintaining circuit has a lost motion. the taking up of which is delayed by a. timing device which may be set by its adjusting needle valve to a point which gives the pressing members ample time to become safely closed before the maintaining circuit is completed.

I have also provided a unit including a fluid motor, its operating valves and a power actuator for those valves which may be suitably attached to a foot power press and control lines run to the forward edge or the press table thus transforming the foot power press to a lull power operated press.

, What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, press closing means including a fluidactuated motor and motion transmitting mechanism for moving one of said members into ironing engagement with the other member, conduit means for the supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said motor and including a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve, operator controlled means for moving said valves to operated position with said inlet valve open and said outlet valve closed, said last named means having a connection permitting additional movement beyond said valve operating movement, means for holding said valves in said operated position, a timing device for controlling said additional movement, and means for actuating said holding means upon completion of said additional movement.

2. In a pressing machine, a pair oi coacting 4 relatively movable pressing members, press closing means including a fluid actuated motor and motion transmitting mechanism for moving one of said members into ironing engagement with the other member, conduit means for the supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said motor and including a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve, an actuator movable to press-closing position for moving said valves to operated position with said inlet valve open and said outlet valve closed, means for so moving said actuator including two spaced safety manuals, said actuator having a connection permitting additional movement after said valves are moved to operated position, a dashpot for delaying said additional movement, and means operated by the taking up of said lostmotion for holding said actuator in press-closing, position.

3. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, press closing means including a fluid actuated motor and motion transmitting mechanism for moving one of said members into ironing engagement with the other member, conduit means for the supply and exhaust oi. motive fluid to and from said motor and including a normally closed inlet valve and a. normally open outlet valve, operator controlled means for moving said valves to operated position with said inlet valve open and said outlet valve closed, said last-named means having a connection permitting additional movement beyond said valve operating movement, solenoid operated means for holding said valves in said operated position, a timing device for controlling said additional movement, and means for energizingsaid solenoid upon completion 01' said additional movement.

- motor and having a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve, an actuator Y tor said valves movable to press-closing position to open said inlet valve and to close said outlet valve, said actuator having a connection permitting movement past said press-closing position, a solenoid having an armature operatively connected with said actuator for moving the latter, two electric circuits for energizing said solenoid, an operator-operated control member in one circuit, a normally open switch in the other circuit, a timing device for controlling movement of said actuator past said press-closing position, and the parts being so arranged that said switch is' closed when said actuator completes its said movement.

5. The combination of claim 4; in which said timing device is a dash-pot operatively connected with said actuator to delay movement of the same into press-closing position.

6. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing members and operating mechanism therefor including a cylinder and piston motor for closing said pressing machine, conduit means for supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said motor and having a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve, a first solenoid'having an armature operatively connected with said valves for opening said inlet valve and for closing said outlet valve when said solenoid is energized, a second solenoid having an armature, a dash-pot connected with said. armature for delaying the movement of the latter when said second solenoid is energized, two electric circuits for energizing said solenoids substantially simultaneously, one of said circuits having an operator-operated control member therefor, the other of said circuits comprising a normally open switch, and means actuated by the armature of said second solenoid for closing said switch.-

7. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing members and operating mechanism therefor including a cylinder and piston motor for closing said pressing machine, conduit means for supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said motor and having a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve, a solenoid having an armature operatively connected with said valves for opening said inlet valve and for closing said outlet valve when said solenoid is energized, a contact closing device operable to close a pair of normally open electrical contacts, means independent of said motor and operable a predetermined period after said solenoid is energized for actuating said device, two electric circuits for energizing said solenoid, a pair of spaced normally open operator-operated switches connected in series in one of said circuits, and the other of said circuits including said normally open electrical contacts.

The combination of claim 7 and including a normally closed electrical switch in the said other of said circuits movable by the operator to open position to deenergize said solenoid and to permit said valves to return to normal position for opening the press.

9. A press actuating unitary assembly comprising a cylinder and piston motor, a valve casing housing movable inlet and outlet valves, a

said outlet valve said valves, a solenoid having an armature operatively connected with said valves for moving them when said solenoid is energized, said armature connection permitting additional movement of said armature beyond said valve operating movement, a dashpot for delaying said additional movement, and a contact closing member movable by said additional movement.

10. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressure members, press closing means including a fluid actuated motor, a supply of motive fluid therefor, valve means for controlling said fluid supply and movable to supply and exhaust positions, means biasing said valve means to exhaust position, electrical means adapted when energized to move said valve means to supply position and to hold it there against the action of said biasing means, a press closing circuit including a manually operated switch for energizing said electrical means, a second circuit by-passing said switch, a normally open switch in said second circuit, an electrical device connected in series in said closing circuit and having an operative connection with said last named switch for closing it, and a timing device for delaying the operation of said electrical device.

11. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members and operating means therefor including a fluid actuated motor, conduitmeans for the supply and exhaust or motive fluid to and from said motor and including a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve, a power device formoving said valves to and for holding said valves in operated position with said inlet valve open and closed, two power supply circuits for said device, one of said circuits including an operator-operated member, the other of said circuits including a control member normally in power cut-oil position, and time-delayed means independent of said motor for moving said control member to power supply position in timed relation with the supply of power to said one circuit.

12. A pressing machine as in claim 11, and in which said other circuit includes a control member normally in power supplyposition and movable to power cut-off position to deenergize said device.

13. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, power means for causing relative approach and pressing action between said members, control means for said power means operable in two phases, a first phase to cause movement of said members into press-closed position and a second phase to hold said members in closed position, two spaced safety control members adapted upon coincidental operation to cause first phase operation of said control means, a control member for causing second phase operation of said control means, a time-delay device for causing actuation of said second phase control member, and an operative connection between at least one of said safety control members and said device for causing starting operation of said device by actuation of said safety control members.

4. In a. pressing machine a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members and .operating means therefor including a motor for clos- Patent No. 2,159,06h.

ing said press, a power supply for said motor, a control member for said supply, power means adapted when energized for moving said control member to power supply position and for holding it there, two power supply systems, each system adapted to energize said power means, a manually operable control member in one of said systems normally in power cut-off position, a dash-pot operatively connected with said power means for delaying movement thereof, and a control member in the other of said systems normally in power cut-off position and arranged for movement to power supply position by said power means upon substantial completion of the movement thereof. I

15. In a pressing machine a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members and operating means therefor including a motor for closing said press, a power supply for said motor, a control member 'for said supply, power means adapted when energized for moving said control member to power supply position and for holding it there, said power means being'adapted to perform an extra movement'other than that necessary to operate said control member, said power means being arranged to start said extra movement substantially simultaneously with movement of said control member to power supply position, two power supply systems, each system adapted to energize said power means, a manually operable control member in one of said systems normally in power cut-ofl position, a dash-pot operatively connected with said power means for delaying said extra movement thereof, and a control member in the other of said systems normally in power cut-off position and arranged for movement by said power means to power supply position upon substantial completion of the said extra movement 01' said power means.

16. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, press closing means including a fluid actuated motor and motion transmitting mechanism for moving one of said members into ironing engagement with the other member, conduit means for the supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said motor and including a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve, operator controlled electric power means for moving said valves to operated position with said inlet valve open and said outlet valve closed and for holding them there, said electric power means having an energizing circuit with a normally open control member therein, said control member being arranged for closure by completion of a power movement of said electric power means, and a timing device for delaying the completion of said power movement.

WILLIAM P. BEATTIE.

CERTIFICATE OF com-error.

December 6, 1958.

WILLIAM P. BEATT'IE,

of the above numbered patent requiring column, lines 5b nd 55 said lost -motion" correction as follows: fags 5, second claim 2, strike out the words "the taking up of and insert instead said additional movement;

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

and that 

